Tag Archives: Zacchaeus

I love the story of Zacchaeus. He was short. I am short. He was rich. I’m a Dave Ramsey student. He could climb a tree. I like to look at trees. What I really love about Zacchaeus is that he was desperate for Jesus. Being desperate means feeling hopeless. Being desperate is when you have tried so many other things and all attempts have failed. This is it. Do or die. It’s critical. It’s risky. It’s a last-ditch effort. You realize there’s no way. There’s only Jesus.

Zacchaeus was a sinner, like you, like me. He recognized that his life was hopeless. He realized it was do or die. He wanted so badly to see Jesus. All he wanted was Jesus. But he couldn’t see him. He was too short. He ran. He ran ahead and climbed higher. Higher. He climbed up a sycamore tree so he could catch a glimpse of Jesus. He did all he could to see Him.

We live in a different time than Zacchaeus but we too can see Jesus. We actually are blessed with the Holy Spirit, God in us, when we accept Christ. So anytime we want to catch a glimpse of Jesus, we simply need to pray, to read His Word. We don’t have to climb trees. We don’t have to run fast to get ahead. He’s right there within reach. Are you reaching? Are you desperate for Jesus? Is He all you want right now?

“Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.”
-Luke 19:1-4 [MSG]

Words are powerful. I learned that at a very young age. I grew up writing and realized how much power there was in the words my hand penned. Even today as I am typing these words into my laptop, I understand their power. I know how God can use them if only I allow Him to use me and the talents He has given me.

The proverb for today says that “words of the godly are a life-giving fountain.” What a beautiful description. The term “life-giving fountain” is found in the Book of Proverbs in other areas. The fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain (Proverbs 14:27). The instruction of the wise is a life-giving fountain (Proverbs 13:14). Discretion is a life-giving fountain (Proverbs 16:22). To consider the words of the godly as life-giving, one can easily agree that positive words build up and encourage, while negative ones do the opposite. We can take this a step further. A friend of mine always says to “speak life” onto people.

How do you “speak life” onto your life and others? You believe in the promises of God. You trust Him and His Word. You “speak life” upon the situation, knowing that He can deliver. He can restore. Through Him you can overcome. This is the best description I have for a “life-giving fountain.” Start speaking to people like Jesus spoke to people—He spoke to Zacchaeus as the man He knew Zacchaeus could be, not as one pushing someone downward for being a tax collector. God renamed Jacob Israel which was a life-giving fountain. Jacob the deceiver was no longer—Israel the man who prevails with God from then onward. Speak life today.

“The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.” – Proverbs 10:11 [NLT]